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Eric with his children Colin, Ben and Beth and wife Kristine.
Eric and wife Kristine
$7.7 million this year,” says Joe Morris. “Eric has helped develop the big days and makes sure our product is in the right window during the week.
“When we got here, we were racing Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Now we race Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, where we’re not buried up against the Santa Anitas, Del Mars and Churchills. He’s done a good job finding that spot and then working with the post times on those days.
“Even yesterday [Wednesday, Oct. 5], we got $4.4 million, a really solid day and the highest non-Indiana-Derby Day in the history of the track,” Joe adds. “So, we had a record last year and we had a record the year before on total handle. You’ve got to be relevant to your gambler and to your circuit and we’re in a good place on both.”
The increased revenue hasn’t been an easy venture, though. Along with 2020’s COVID- 19 pandemic, the racing industry’s slowdown in recent years has been challenging. “Just trying to fill races and put on a product
that gamblers support is getting tougher as we go along,” Eric says. “I’d say that there’s a contraction in the number of foals being produced ... If somebody back 25 years ago would have predicted the number of foals we’d have in 2022, none of us would have believed there would still be a racing industry. We’re still trying to run as many races as we can.
“Also, making sure we’re living up to the standards of new federal regulations that will roll out in January 2023 for the Thoroughbred industry is very labor intensive,” he adds. “The intent is very good, though: to ensure the health of horses and humans—that’s something everybody is in favor of.”
Joe appreciates the upbeat, can-do attitude and positive energy that Eric exudes every day. “We run a long schedule during the course of a year and it’s easy to get into the same path and into a bit of a rut, but Eric just doesn’t let that happen,” says Joe. “He’s out there with a really good attitude, he’s a kind person to his team, and he’s fun to work with. He gives it his all every day and I’m a fan of his and proud of him.”
BUILDING A LIFE
Eric’s other fans include: his children, daughter Bailey, 26, an eighth-grade teacher in Phoenix; son Ben, 24, who works at a Minneapolis accounting firm; son Colin, 19, who is studying to be an electrician; and Eric’s new wife Kristine, a project manager for a mechanical company.
“They all love the racetrack, but none will make a career out of it,” Eric says, adding that when the time is right, he and Kristine, who grew up with Arabians, would love to be racehorse owners. “She does love being around the horses and the racetrack, though. She leaves work and half the time will drive out to the track and watch the end of the card while I’m working.”
Not only would he like to own a winning racehorse, Eric’s bucket list includes being there when the Minnesota Vikings win the Super Bowl. “That has to happen!” he says with a smile of the team that has made four unsuccessful appearances there. And if Eric’s commitment, dedication and positive attitude are any indication of that coming to fruition, that will happen.
Joe Morris and Eric, Oct. 22, at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
SPEEDHORSE November 2022 69
Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse
Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse
Courtesy Eric Halstrom